PARAMARIBO – From 14 to 24 August 2017, Soldiers from the United States South Dakota Army National Guard and from the Suriname Army will work together to renovate some of the infrastructure at the O.S. Majosteeg in Wanica. This primary school serves approximately 450 students from the local area.
This project is made possible through funding from the United States Southern Command in Miami, FL.
Since June 2006, the South Dakota National Guard and the Suriname Defense Force have successfully partnered together to conduct numerous Subject Matter Exchanges which have benefitted men and women from both organizations. Most recently in August 2016, the South Dakota National Guard and the Suriname Army worked together to renovate portions of the O.S. Santodorp. This project served as the first example of a new area of cooperation with Suriname.
Beginning in March 2016, South Dakota National Guard and the Suriname Army soldiers, who specialize in construction, visited 10 public schools accompanied by representatives from the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Education. The Ministry of Education chose the Majosteeg School and the soldiers have together planned how they will conduct the project. The scope of the project consists of installing plumbing, repairing bathrooms, installing in tiles, improving the drainage system, and building a second bathroom for the younger children. All construction supplies will be purchased in Suriname.
